Jharkhand Finance Minister seeks removal of Nilamber-Pitamber University VC over alleged irregularities

Jharkhand Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore on Tuesday met Governor and Chancellor Santosh Kumar Gangwar and sought the removal of Nilamber-Pitamber University Vice-Chancellor Dr Dinesh Kumar Singh over alleged financial and administrative irregularities at the Palamu-based university.

During the meeting at Lok Bhavan, the Finance Minister submitted a memorandum to the Governor, urging action against the Vice-Chancellor.

Kishore expressed apprehension that if Dr Singh continues in office, evidence related to the alleged irregularities could be tampered with or destroyed. He argued that merely withdrawing the Vice-Chancellor's financial and administrative powers would not be sufficient and that he should be removed from the post altogether.

The demand follows a special audit conducted by the state Finance Department, which reportedly flagged several irregularities in the functioning of the university.

According to the audit findings cited by the minister, questions were raised over the payment of around Rs 2.50 crore for work related to the conduct of examinations, including whether prescribed procedures were followed.

The audit is also reported to have raised objections concerning appointments at the university and the repeated extensions of the Vice-Chancellor's tenure.

Kishore further alleged that certain officials were assigned important responsibilities despite directions from the Governor, and claimed that some of the decisions appeared aimed at benefiting a particular contractor.

The Governor had earlier restricted the Vice-Chancellor's financial and administrative powers. The Finance Minister has now sought to go a step further by demanding his removal from the post.

Kishore also drew the Governor's attention to media reports concerning developments at the university following the restrictions on the Vice-Chancellor's powers.

According to the minister, within around five hours of the restrictions being imposed, the Vice-Chancellor transferred the Registrar and appointed a new Registrar. Kishore questioned the circumstances surrounding the decision.

The issue dates back to last year, when the Finance Minister had reportedly met the Governor and apprised him of alleged irregularities at the university. Following the meeting, a special audit was conducted on the Governor's directions.

The audit report is said to have pointed to irregularities in several financial and administrative matters.

Among the issues highlighted in the audit was expenditure of around Rs 79.35 lakh on the university's convocation ceremony held in October last year. The expenditure was allegedly incurred without approval of the budget from the Governor's Secretariat.

Kishore placed these and other points raised in the audit report before the Governor and urged him to take further action, including removing the Vice-Chancellor from office.